Boeing proposing long-term fix for 787 batteries

(AP) — Congressional officials say Boeing is proposing a long-term fix for the 787 Dreamliner's troubled batteries that won't have the planes back in the air until April at the earliest.

Boeing officials were presenting their plan Friday to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The officials say the plan will require some testing and safety recertification of the plane's lithium ion batteries, but not a complete recertification. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

It's up to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to decide whether to approve the plan. But the officials say Boeing's plan is not a surprise, since the company has kept regulators closely informed, the officials said.